Craig Blankenhorn/HBO(NEW YORK) -- As Amanda Seales gears up for the premiere of her first comedy special on HBO, the Insecure star is also weighing in on the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what people often get wrong about the legendary civil right leader.

Seales, who has a Masters degree in African-American Studies from Columbia University, says King's legacy and accomplishments shouldn't be all about his "passivity."

"I think there's -- especially amongst white folks in this country who don't really know their research-- they think of MLK as a 'safe negro,'" Seales tells ABC Radio.

"...They look at him as like this standard of passivity that all black people should be aspiring to," she adds. "And what they fail to understand is that that's incorrect. I mean, even Malcolm X eventually was like, 'Ohhh. Okay...You're doing something different!'"

According Seales, King's approach to civil rights was one of many ways the larger revolution was accomplished.

"There is a multi-pronged approach that happens to revolutions," Seales explains. "Not everybody comes out guns blazing. Not everybody has that as their tactic. And you need to have different folks coming at things from different angles."

She continues, "So, for all intents and purposes, Martin Luther King was one of the angles that was necessary to have an actual revolution in this country."

Notes Seales, "The civil rights movement is a nice way of saying, 'We had a revolution where people had to literally put their lives on the line for basic rights that were afforded to their human counterparts.'"

Seales' comedy special Amanda Seales: I Be Knowing premieres Saturday, January 26 on HBO.

Craig Blankenhorn/HBO(NEW YORK) -- As Amanda Seales gears up for the premiere of her first comedy special on HBO, the Insecure star is also weighing in on the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what people often get wrong about the legendary civil right leader.

Seales, who has a Masters degree in African-American Studies from Columbia University, says King's legacy and accomplishments shouldn't be all about his "passivity."

"I think there's -- especially amongst white folks in this country who don't really know their research-- they think of MLK as a 'safe negro,'" Seales tells ABC Radio.

"...They look at him as like this standard of passivity that all black people should be aspiring to," she adds. "And what they fail to understand is that that's incorrect. I mean, even Malcolm X eventually was like, 'Ohhh. Okay...You're doing something different!'"

According Seales, King's approach to civil rights was one of many ways the larger revolution was accomplished.

"There is a multi-pronged approach that happens to revolutions," Seales explains. "Not everybody comes out guns blazing. Not everybody has that as their tactic. And you need to have different folks coming at things from different angles."

She continues, "So, for all intents and purposes, Martin Luther King was one of the angles that was necessary to have an actual revolution in this country."

Notes Seales, "The civil rights movement is a nice way of saying, 'We had a revolution where people had to literally put their lives on the line for basic rights that were afforded to their human counterparts.'"

Seales' comedy special Amanda Seales: I Be Knowing premieres Saturday, January 26 on HBO.

]]>Michael C. Hall to star in Super Bowl Skittles ad, to be performed as a live Broadway musicalhttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/bad2da0e58863698a88c87d8c3332035
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/bad2da0e58863698a88c87d8c3332035

Mars, Incorporated(NEW YORK) -- Skittles is taking its Super Bowl ad to the next level with the help of Michael C. Hall and the Great White Way.

In a teaser for the ambitious concept, Hall confides his doubts to a therapist.

“I have been having some doubts. I don’t really do ads,” he says, explaining, “The ad won’t be on the actual game; people will buy tickets and watch it live in a theater.”

“It’s a live Skittles musical ad performed in a Broadway theater,” he clarifies.

The ad will be performed at The Town Hall in New York City at 1 p.m. ET on Super Bowl Sunday. It will later air during the big game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The one-time-only performance will feature a 17-person cast, including Hall. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, with proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Skittles will be matching the donation.

In a teaser for the ambitious concept, Hall confides his doubts to a therapist.

“I have been having some doubts. I don’t really do ads,” he says, explaining, “The ad won’t be on the actual game; people will buy tickets and watch it live in a theater.”

“It’s a live Skittles musical ad performed in a Broadway theater,” he clarifies.

The ad will be performed at The Town Hall in New York City at 1 p.m. ET on Super Bowl Sunday. It will later air during the big game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The one-time-only performance will feature a 17-person cast, including Hall. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, with proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Skittles will be matching the donation.

]]>Matthew McConaughey took his son to a BTS concert and had "a blast"http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/dea4e7d5209296db6f5ff171f43566e9
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 10:01:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/dea4e7d5209296db6f5ff171f43566e9

During his appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday, the actor says he got his 10-year-old son Levi tickets to the see the K-pop boy band and ended up having “a blast” at the show.

"Levi wanted to go see BTS for his birthday, his favorite band, BTS,” McConaughey explains. “They’re South Korean, and my son is walking around the house months before he wants to go to this concert and he knows all the songs. He was rapping Korean.”

Being the good parents that they are, McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves granted their son’s birthday wish.

“We took a couple of his friends, Camila and I went, and we had a blast,” McConaughey says. “We got out of our seats, we got right down in the pit and we broke a sweat dancing.”

And speaking of birthdays, McConaughey also tells a funny story of how his Serenity co-star Anne Hathaway showed up a day late to his November birthday party. There were no hard feelings, though – McConaughey says they partied until 2 a.m. that night anyway.

During his appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday, the actor says he got his 10-year-old son Levi tickets to the see the K-pop boy band and ended up having “a blast” at the show.

"Levi wanted to go see BTS for his birthday, his favorite band, BTS,” McConaughey explains. “They’re South Korean, and my son is walking around the house months before he wants to go to this concert and he knows all the songs. He was rapping Korean.”

Being the good parents that they are, McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves granted their son’s birthday wish.

“We took a couple of his friends, Camila and I went, and we had a blast,” McConaughey says. “We got out of our seats, we got right down in the pit and we broke a sweat dancing.”

And speaking of birthdays, McConaughey also tells a funny story of how his Serenity co-star Anne Hathaway showed up a day late to his November birthday party. There were no hard feelings, though – McConaughey says they partied until 2 a.m. that night anyway.

]]>Donald Trump ends shutdown for hamberders in 'SNL' game of 'Deal or No Deal'http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/3c725348789ae77e426fcd7294143d7f
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:32:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/3c725348789ae77e426fcd7294143d7f

Will Heath/NBC(NEW YORK) -- The first Saturday Night Live of the new year opened with President Donald Trump playing a game of Deal or No Deal -- in a bid to end the longest government shutdown in history.

"We decided to do this in the only format you understand: a TV game show with women holding briefcases," said Kenan Thompson, playing host Steve Harvey -- who explained that he was substituting for germaphobe regular host Howie Mandel, who supposedly shook someone's hand and got Ebola.

Rather than models, the women -- and men -- holding briefcases ended up being members of Congress, and instead of dollar amounts, their suitcases contained proposals to end the shutdown.

Will Heath/NBC(NEW YORK) -- The first Saturday Night Live of the new year opened with President Donald Trump playing a game of Deal or No Deal -- in a bid to end the longest government shutdown in history.

"We decided to do this in the only format you understand: a TV game show with women holding briefcases," said Kenan Thompson, playing host Steve Harvey -- who explained that he was substituting for germaphobe regular host Howie Mandel, who supposedly shook someone's hand and got Ebola.

Rather than models, the women -- and men -- holding briefcases ended up being members of Congress, and instead of dollar amounts, their suitcases contained proposals to end the shutdown.

]]>'Glass' scares up $40.58 million opening to top MLK weekend box officehttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/91c690225019eb359f050cac76064d7f
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:28:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/91c690225019eb359f050cac76064d7fUniversal(HOLLYWOOD) -- Glass fell short of expectations, but still managed to top the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend box office with and estimated $40.58 million between Friday and Sunday.

The the third and final installment in M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable series, which stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and James McAvoy is now the fourth largest January opening of all-time. It's expected to deliver another $47 million, putting it on track to deliver the third largest Martin Luther King weekend performance of all-time. Overseas, Glass earned an estimated $48.5 million.

The Upside dropped to second place in its second week of release, earning an estimated $15.67 million over the three-day, with expectations of exceeding 19 million over the four-day weekend.

The biggest surprise this weekend was the Japanese anime film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. It's estimated $10.65 million haul currently puts in third place, slightly ahead of Aquaman -- which finished in fourth place with an estimated $10 million. However, Broly's results haven't officially been released, so there's a chance the two films could end up trading places.

Meanwhile, Aquaman added an estimated $14.3 million overseas, bringing the international tally to just over $759 million and $1.06 billion worldwide. It's just a little over $21 million shy of The Dark Knight Rises, and is expected become the highest grossing worldwide release among DC Comics adaptations.

Rounding out the top five was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, bringing in an estimated $7.25 million for the three-day, with a shot at topping 9 million for the four-day weekend. It's worldwide earnings now stand at upwards of $322 million.

Here are the top 10 movies from Friday through Sunday, with estimated domestic box office earnings:

]]>Universal(HOLLYWOOD) -- Glass fell short of expectations, but still managed to top the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend box office with and estimated $40.58 million between Friday and Sunday.

The the third and final installment in M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable series, which stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and James McAvoy is now the fourth largest January opening of all-time. It's expected to deliver another $47 million, putting it on track to deliver the third largest Martin Luther King weekend performance of all-time. Overseas, Glass earned an estimated $48.5 million.

The Upside dropped to second place in its second week of release, earning an estimated $15.67 million over the three-day, with expectations of exceeding 19 million over the four-day weekend.

The biggest surprise this weekend was the Japanese anime film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. It's estimated $10.65 million haul currently puts in third place, slightly ahead of Aquaman -- which finished in fourth place with an estimated $10 million. However, Broly's results haven't officially been released, so there's a chance the two films could end up trading places.

Meanwhile, Aquaman added an estimated $14.3 million overseas, bringing the international tally to just over $759 million and $1.06 billion worldwide. It's just a little over $21 million shy of The Dark Knight Rises, and is expected become the highest grossing worldwide release among DC Comics adaptations.

Rounding out the top five was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, bringing in an estimated $7.25 million for the three-day, with a shot at topping 9 million for the four-day weekend. It's worldwide earnings now stand at upwards of $322 million.

Here are the top 10 movies from Friday through Sunday, with estimated domestic box office earnings:

The Razzies -- or Golden Raspberry Awards, officially -- celebrate the very worst in movies for the past year, and among the nominees is President Donald Trump.

The Leader of the Free World is nominated for Worst Actor for appearing as himself in two documentaries: Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9. His competition includes Will Ferrell for Holmes & Watson, John Travolta for Gotti, Bruce Willis for Death Wish and Johnny Depp's voiceover performance in SherlockGnomes.

He's also up for Worst Screen Combo for those two films, listed as "Donald J. Trump & His Self Perpetuating Pettiness." First Lady Melania Trump is nominated for Worst Supporting Actress for appearing as herself in Fahrenheit 11/19 -- and so Kellyanne Conway.

Holmes & Watson, one of the biggest box-office flops in recent memory, is up for Worst Picture, along with Gotti, The Happytime Murders, Robin Hood and Winchester.

The 39th annual Razzie Awards will be handed out February 23, the night before the 91st Academy Awards.

Worst ScreenplayDeath of a Nation, Written by Dinesh D’Souza & Bruce SchooleyFifty Shades Freed, Screenplay by Niall Leonard, from the Novel by E.L. James Gotti, Screenplay by Leo Rossi and Lem DobbsThe Happytime Murders, Screenplay by Todd Berger, Story by Berger and Dee Austin Robinson Winchester, Written by Tom Vaughan and The Spierig Brothers

The Razzies -- or Golden Raspberry Awards, officially -- celebrate the very worst in movies for the past year, and among the nominees is President Donald Trump.

The Leader of the Free World is nominated for Worst Actor for appearing as himself in two documentaries: Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9. His competition includes Will Ferrell for Holmes & Watson, John Travolta for Gotti, Bruce Willis for Death Wish and Johnny Depp's voiceover performance in SherlockGnomes.

He's also up for Worst Screen Combo for those two films, listed as "Donald J. Trump & His Self Perpetuating Pettiness." First Lady Melania Trump is nominated for Worst Supporting Actress for appearing as herself in Fahrenheit 11/19 -- and so Kellyanne Conway.

Holmes & Watson, one of the biggest box-office flops in recent memory, is up for Worst Picture, along with Gotti, The Happytime Murders, Robin Hood and Winchester.

The 39th annual Razzie Awards will be handed out February 23, the night before the 91st Academy Awards.

Worst ScreenplayDeath of a Nation, Written by Dinesh D’Souza & Bruce SchooleyFifty Shades Freed, Screenplay by Niall Leonard, from the Novel by E.L. James Gotti, Screenplay by Leo Rossi and Lem DobbsThe Happytime Murders, Screenplay by Todd Berger, Story by Berger and Dee Austin Robinson Winchester, Written by Tom Vaughan and The Spierig Brothers

]]>Alan Alda on living with Parkinson&rsquo;s disease: "I just try to make the best of what's in front of me"http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/327e4b96ec239891481b144f18c25247
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/327e4b96ec239891481b144f18c25247Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Radio Hall of Fame(NEW YORK) -- Ahead of receiving the the Life Achievement Award at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27, former M*A*S*H star Alan Alda has given an upbeat interview to People.

The 82-year-old actor, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost four years ago, admits that at first, he was frightened by the diagnosis, but he hasn't let it slow him down.

"My life is more of an improvisation," Alda tells the magazine. "I just try to make the best of what’s in front of me."

Alda learned as much as he could about the degenerative condition, and he insists that staying active is key.

Indeed, the award-winning stage and screen actor's 2018 announcement to his fans that he had the disease was accompanied by video of him juggling. He also dances and does tai chi.

]]>Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Radio Hall of Fame(NEW YORK) -- Ahead of receiving the the Life Achievement Award at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27, former M*A*S*H star Alan Alda has given an upbeat interview to People.

The 82-year-old actor, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost four years ago, admits that at first, he was frightened by the diagnosis, but he hasn't let it slow him down.

"My life is more of an improvisation," Alda tells the magazine. "I just try to make the best of what’s in front of me."

Alda learned as much as he could about the degenerative condition, and he insists that staying active is key.

Indeed, the award-winning stage and screen actor's 2018 announcement to his fans that he had the disease was accompanied by video of him juggling. He also dances and does tai chi.

]]>Post-'Game of Thrones': Kit Harrington has Jon Snow's crypt statue and Sophie Turner has cleaner hairhttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/aae839cc0ca4c97e8149ec59246d964f
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/aae839cc0ca4c97e8149ec59246d964fHelen Sloan/courtesy of HBO(LONDON) -- If you watched one of the latest teasers for the final season of Game of Thrones, you'll have seen Jon Snow, Sansa Stark and Arya Stark all confronting statues of themselves inside the Stark family crypt.

Creepy as it might be, Kit Harrington, who plays Jon, says he's kept his statue as a memento.

"I kept that statue. You know, the one in the crypt,” he tells BBC’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. "I kept it, they sent it to my house. So, I've got it in my shed. How sad is that? I was the only one who kept their statue, that's how narcissistic I am."

As for what he plans to do with it?

"I'm going to turn it into a water feature, I think," he says. That means a fountain, basically.

And speaking of the Starks, Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa, is also looking back on her time on the show, which she describes as…greasy.

In an interview with InStyle, Turner reveals that in later seasons – when Sansa fell on hard times -- she wasn’t allowed to wash her hair.

"[In the final season] I wear a wig, so I can wash my hair whenever I want, which is nice," she says. "But yes, for a couple of years I was living with pretty greasy hair. [It was] really itchy! Also, we would have the snow machines going so we would have little snow paper particles that would get stuck in the grease. It was disgusting."

]]>Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO(LONDON) -- If you watched one of the latest teasers for the final season of Game of Thrones, you'll have seen Jon Snow, Sansa Stark and Arya Stark all confronting statues of themselves inside the Stark family crypt.

Creepy as it might be, Kit Harrington, who plays Jon, says he's kept his statue as a memento.

"I kept that statue. You know, the one in the crypt,” he tells BBC’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. "I kept it, they sent it to my house. So, I've got it in my shed. How sad is that? I was the only one who kept their statue, that's how narcissistic I am."

As for what he plans to do with it?

"I'm going to turn it into a water feature, I think," he says. That means a fountain, basically.

And speaking of the Starks, Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa, is also looking back on her time on the show, which she describes as…greasy.

In an interview with InStyle, Turner reveals that in later seasons – when Sansa fell on hard times -- she wasn’t allowed to wash her hair.

"[In the final season] I wear a wig, so I can wash my hair whenever I want, which is nice," she says. "But yes, for a couple of years I was living with pretty greasy hair. [It was] really itchy! Also, we would have the snow machines going so we would have little snow paper particles that would get stuck in the grease. It was disgusting."

]]>HBO's 'Crashing' promises more stand-up and social commentary in season threehttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/4a3ad26365dc4821a3d813c5d2ca215b
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/4a3ad26365dc4821a3d813c5d2ca215bCraig Blankenhorn/HBO(NEW YORK) -- HBO’s Crashing, inspired by the life of comedian Pete Holmes, is back for more stand-up this weekend…and maybe a little social commentary on the side.

The third season of the series, which premieres on Sunday, promises to not only document Holmes and his peers’ ongoing struggle to become comedy stars, but to also address the state of comedy in a post-#MeToo world.

That’s something writer and co-star Jamie Lee is all for exploring. This season, her character Ali Reissen will inject a little female empowerment into her stand-up.

“The stand-up that Ali does on the show this season, she’s definitely sort of taking a stance and leaning in more to social commentary and cultural relevance and the discussions that are being had online every single day about being a woman and being empowered,” Lee tells ABC Radio.

In an upcoming episode, which Lee calls one of her favorites of the season, Ali realizes not everyone is ready to change with the times when she confronts a male comic about his tone-deaf misogynist act.

“The episode is like…'The reason you're not getting opportunities is because your stand-up is not relevant and you're not listening to the conversations being had and, you know, you're essentially just out of touch and you're threatened,'” Lee explains.

Tune in for the laughs and life lessons when Crashing season three debuts this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

]]>Craig Blankenhorn/HBO(NEW YORK) -- HBO’s Crashing, inspired by the life of comedian Pete Holmes, is back for more stand-up this weekend…and maybe a little social commentary on the side.

The third season of the series, which premieres on Sunday, promises to not only document Holmes and his peers’ ongoing struggle to become comedy stars, but to also address the state of comedy in a post-#MeToo world.

That’s something writer and co-star Jamie Lee is all for exploring. This season, her character Ali Reissen will inject a little female empowerment into her stand-up.

“The stand-up that Ali does on the show this season, she’s definitely sort of taking a stance and leaning in more to social commentary and cultural relevance and the discussions that are being had online every single day about being a woman and being empowered,” Lee tells ABC Radio.

In an upcoming episode, which Lee calls one of her favorites of the season, Ali realizes not everyone is ready to change with the times when she confronts a male comic about his tone-deaf misogynist act.

“The episode is like…'The reason you're not getting opportunities is because your stand-up is not relevant and you're not listening to the conversations being had and, you know, you're essentially just out of touch and you're threatened,'” Lee explains.

Tune in for the laughs and life lessons when Crashing season three debuts this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

]]>Noomi Rapace is back to kick butt as a bodyguard in new Netflix thriller 'Close'http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/e98a975e0709d2dea541c6092f2683f1
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/e98a975e0709d2dea541c6092f2683f1Netflix(NEW YORK) -- Actress Noomi Rapace is no stranger to playing strong women: She played super-tough hacker Lisbeth Salander in three films based on Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. But she admits even she wasn't prepared for what she'd have to do to prepare for her latest role.

Rapace plays a bodyguard in Netflix's new thriller Close, inspired by the life of real-life security expert Jacquie Davis. Davis' clients list includes Nicole Kidman, JK Rowling and members of the Royal Family, while her company, The Circuit, has a reputation as being some of the best in the protection game.

In Close, Rapace plays a bodyguard trying to keep a young heiress alive against all odds, and she tells ABC Radio she was really put through her paces before the cameras rolled.

"There was weapon training. And then how to protect a [client], how to walk, how to position yourself," she explains. "How to enter a room, how to always be aware of exits -- like who enters, who leaves. Like, it's so many different components, and they're so secretive: It's hidden, it's mysterious. I felt like I was entering some weird James Bond world, you know?"

Rapace says other actresses should follow her lead and play tough women, as a kind of protest against Hollywood's obsession with looks over substance.

"It's up to women...to stand up, and say, 'This is what I want to do,'" Rapace says. "To kind of fight against the cute, and the sexy, dull parts that we get -- like in real life and in this industry."

She adds, "I think vanity, and this whole idea that we need to be attractive and pretty and nice all the time...that time is over. It's time to fight for what we really want."

]]>Netflix(NEW YORK) -- Actress Noomi Rapace is no stranger to playing strong women: She played super-tough hacker Lisbeth Salander in three films based on Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. But she admits even she wasn't prepared for what she'd have to do to prepare for her latest role.

Rapace plays a bodyguard in Netflix's new thriller Close, inspired by the life of real-life security expert Jacquie Davis. Davis' clients list includes Nicole Kidman, JK Rowling and members of the Royal Family, while her company, The Circuit, has a reputation as being some of the best in the protection game.

In Close, Rapace plays a bodyguard trying to keep a young heiress alive against all odds, and she tells ABC Radio she was really put through her paces before the cameras rolled.

"There was weapon training. And then how to protect a [client], how to walk, how to position yourself," she explains. "How to enter a room, how to always be aware of exits -- like who enters, who leaves. Like, it's so many different components, and they're so secretive: It's hidden, it's mysterious. I felt like I was entering some weird James Bond world, you know?"

Rapace says other actresses should follow her lead and play tough women, as a kind of protest against Hollywood's obsession with looks over substance.

"It's up to women...to stand up, and say, 'This is what I want to do,'" Rapace says. "To kind of fight against the cute, and the sexy, dull parts that we get -- like in real life and in this industry."

She adds, "I think vanity, and this whole idea that we need to be attractive and pretty and nice all the time...that time is over. It's time to fight for what we really want."

The comedian takes his Stay Hungry tour to one of the most famous venues in the world Saturday and Sunday night.

"[T]hat was never in the plan for me," he tells ABC Radio. "For me it was just always, I wanted to do stand-up comedy for a living, and that's it...So I didn't have it on my vision board or anything like that: 'Madison Square Garden: 2019.'"

He continues, "Now that I'm doing it, it's all kinda hitting me...this week...there's a lot of emotions: excitement, anxiety." He adds, "Once I get on stage I'll be fine. It's just the buildup."

Maniscalco, who also just released a Netflix stand-up special called Stay Hungry, says of the feat, "I think the fans feel like they're really part of this, because...they were there when I was doing Gotham Comedy Club on a Wednesday night in front of 53 people."

Maniscalco can also be seen in theaters, in the Golden Globe-winning drama Green Book. He says the role of a member of a big Italian family, "wasn't a huge stretch" for him.

"For me it was just an extension of myself. It's not like I turned into a Rain Man or anything," he quips. "But [it was] a great opportunity for me. I loved working with everyone there. I learned a lot. I'm not a movie actor by any means -- I don't have a lot of experience, so when I do these things. there's always a lot of learning involved, so I kind of soak it up like a sponge."

Expect to see more of him on the big screen. He's working with Goodfellas alums Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci in the upcoming crime drama The Irishman.

]]>Netflix(NEW YORK) -- This weekend, comedian Sebastian Maniscalco reaches the career apex that only a handful of stand-up comics ever have: playing New York's Madison Square Garden.

The comedian takes his Stay Hungry tour to one of the most famous venues in the world Saturday and Sunday night.

"[T]hat was never in the plan for me," he tells ABC Radio. "For me it was just always, I wanted to do stand-up comedy for a living, and that's it...So I didn't have it on my vision board or anything like that: 'Madison Square Garden: 2019.'"

He continues, "Now that I'm doing it, it's all kinda hitting me...this week...there's a lot of emotions: excitement, anxiety." He adds, "Once I get on stage I'll be fine. It's just the buildup."

Maniscalco, who also just released a Netflix stand-up special called Stay Hungry, says of the feat, "I think the fans feel like they're really part of this, because...they were there when I was doing Gotham Comedy Club on a Wednesday night in front of 53 people."

Maniscalco can also be seen in theaters, in the Golden Globe-winning drama Green Book. He says the role of a member of a big Italian family, "wasn't a huge stretch" for him.

"For me it was just an extension of myself. It's not like I turned into a Rain Man or anything," he quips. "But [it was] a great opportunity for me. I loved working with everyone there. I learned a lot. I'm not a movie actor by any means -- I don't have a lot of experience, so when I do these things. there's always a lot of learning involved, so I kind of soak it up like a sponge."

Expect to see more of him on the big screen. He's working with Goodfellas alums Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci in the upcoming crime drama The Irishman.

]]>'Roma', Alfonso Cuar&oacute;n, and Mahershala Ali all Oscar nomination locks, say oddsmakershttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/5f46377271d6b815955c59bf2ef3c787
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/5f46377271d6b815955c59bf2ef3c787Image from "Roma"; Alfonso Cuarón/Netflix(LAS VEGAS) -- With the Oscar nominations just around the corner, the oddsmakers at SportsBettingDime.com have weighed in with the odds for six of the most popular categories.

The early favorites in the six major categories include:

Best Actor -- Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody at 9/10 and Christian Bale for Vice at 2/1.

Best Actress -- Glenn Close for The Wife at 2/1, Olivia Colman for The Favourite at 5/2, and Lady Gaga with a 7/2 chance for A Star Is Born.

The Best Director Oscar race is between Alfonso Cuarón for Roma at 1/5 and Bradley Cooper, a 15-1 shot for A Star Is Born.

Best Picture -- Roma at 3/2 and A Star Is Born at 4/1.

Best Supporting Actress -- Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk comes in at 9/5 and Amy Adams for Vice has a two-in-seven chance.

Best Supporting Actor -- Mahershala Ali for Green Book at 1/2 and Richard E. Grant for Can You Ever Forgive Me at 5/1.

Oddsmakers are also laying 1/7 odds that the Academy forgoes hiring a single host, but if one is chosen, past host Billy Crystal has a 55/1 chance of getting the call.

Last year, five of the six favorites selected by the oddmakers at SportsBettingDime before the nominees were announced were the eventual winners. The only one they blew was Best Picture, offering 2/1 odds for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and a 3/1 chance for the eventual winner, The Shape of Water.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced Monday. The 91st annual Academy Awards will be carried live on ABC from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on February 24.

]]>Image from "Roma"; Alfonso Cuarón/Netflix(LAS VEGAS) -- With the Oscar nominations just around the corner, the oddsmakers at SportsBettingDime.com have weighed in with the odds for six of the most popular categories.

The early favorites in the six major categories include:

Best Actor -- Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody at 9/10 and Christian Bale for Vice at 2/1.

Best Actress -- Glenn Close for The Wife at 2/1, Olivia Colman for The Favourite at 5/2, and Lady Gaga with a 7/2 chance for A Star Is Born.

The Best Director Oscar race is between Alfonso Cuarón for Roma at 1/5 and Bradley Cooper, a 15-1 shot for A Star Is Born.

Best Picture -- Roma at 3/2 and A Star Is Born at 4/1.

Best Supporting Actress -- Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk comes in at 9/5 and Amy Adams for Vice has a two-in-seven chance.

Best Supporting Actor -- Mahershala Ali for Green Book at 1/2 and Richard E. Grant for Can You Ever Forgive Me at 5/1.

Oddsmakers are also laying 1/7 odds that the Academy forgoes hiring a single host, but if one is chosen, past host Billy Crystal has a 55/1 chance of getting the call.

Last year, five of the six favorites selected by the oddmakers at SportsBettingDime before the nominees were announced were the eventual winners. The only one they blew was Best Picture, offering 2/1 odds for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and a 3/1 chance for the eventual winner, The Shape of Water.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced Monday. The 91st annual Academy Awards will be carried live on ABC from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on February 24.

]]>'Happy Death Day 2U' changes release date to avoid Parkland shooting anniversaryhttp://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/7b664e3ff05d07c94fc9475d92b2e9a2
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:00:00 -0600http://www.kiss987.fm/entertainment/7b664e3ff05d07c94fc9475d92b2e9a2Universal Pictures(LOS ANGELES) -- Universal Pictures has changed the release date for its upcoming slasher movie Happy Death Day 2U from February 14th to the 13th to so it won't coincide with the first anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, according to Miami ABC affiliate WPLG TV.

The move was in response to an appeal on Twitter from Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, was killed in the massacre.

“My daughter and 16 others were killed on February 14th,” Guttenberg tweeted Tuesday. “Universal Studios is releasing a movie called Happy Death Day 2 U? I get the pun on Valentines Day, for me it will always be the day my daughter was murdered. Please reconsider this!!!!”

It didn't take long for Guttenberg to get results. "Very happy to announce that I just got off the phone with executives at Universal Studios," he tweeted the following day. "They will be moving the release date of the movie off of February 14th and they will also be taking steps to address the local needs of the Parkland community. This was a great outcome," Guttenberg wrote.

In addition to moving the release date, Universal said it would not show the movie or promote the film in the Parkland area.

]]>Universal Pictures(LOS ANGELES) -- Universal Pictures has changed the release date for its upcoming slasher movie Happy Death Day 2U from February 14th to the 13th to so it won't coincide with the first anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, according to Miami ABC affiliate WPLG TV.

The move was in response to an appeal on Twitter from Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, was killed in the massacre.

“My daughter and 16 others were killed on February 14th,” Guttenberg tweeted Tuesday. “Universal Studios is releasing a movie called Happy Death Day 2 U? I get the pun on Valentines Day, for me it will always be the day my daughter was murdered. Please reconsider this!!!!”

It didn't take long for Guttenberg to get results. "Very happy to announce that I just got off the phone with executives at Universal Studios," he tweeted the following day. "They will be moving the release date of the movie off of February 14th and they will also be taking steps to address the local needs of the Parkland community. This was a great outcome," Guttenberg wrote.

In addition to moving the release date, Universal said it would not show the movie or promote the film in the Parkland area.

Weinstein authorized Brafman to formally notify Judge James Burke, who is overseeing Weinstein's criminal case in New York, of his decision to withdraw as his counsel in connection with all legal matters currently pending.

The split was amicable, according to the statement, and Brafman has agreed to cooperate fully with Weinstein's new legal team in order to ensure an orderly transition.

"Mr. Weinstein praised Mr. Brafman for his legal work to date and Mr. Brafman reiterated his belief that Mr. Weinstein would be exonerated of the charges that have been filed against him and Brafman personally wished Mr. Weinstein the best of luck as he defends the case and the accusations that Mr. Weinstein has vehemently denied," the statement declared.

The statement concluded by saying that Weinstein intends to introduce his new legal team by early next week. According to The New York Post, Brafman's decision to leave Weinstein was prompted by his former client's decision to solicit legal advice from other attorneys, against Brafman's wishes.

Weinstein's facing five criminal counts in New York of rape and sexual assault, all of which he's denied. A sixth count against the film producer was dismissed in October after prosecutors revealed to the defense that they'd discovered a written account from his accuser that suggested the encounter that prompted the count against him was consensual.

]]>Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Harvey Weinstein's criminal defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman announced his intention to withdraw as counsel for the embattled movie mogul in a joint statement obtained by ABC News on Thursday.

Weinstein authorized Brafman to formally notify Judge James Burke, who is overseeing Weinstein's criminal case in New York, of his decision to withdraw as his counsel in connection with all legal matters currently pending.

The split was amicable, according to the statement, and Brafman has agreed to cooperate fully with Weinstein's new legal team in order to ensure an orderly transition.

"Mr. Weinstein praised Mr. Brafman for his legal work to date and Mr. Brafman reiterated his belief that Mr. Weinstein would be exonerated of the charges that have been filed against him and Brafman personally wished Mr. Weinstein the best of luck as he defends the case and the accusations that Mr. Weinstein has vehemently denied," the statement declared.

The statement concluded by saying that Weinstein intends to introduce his new legal team by early next week. According to The New York Post, Brafman's decision to leave Weinstein was prompted by his former client's decision to solicit legal advice from other attorneys, against Brafman's wishes.

Weinstein's facing five criminal counts in New York of rape and sexual assault, all of which he's denied. A sixth count against the film producer was dismissed in October after prosecutors revealed to the defense that they'd discovered a written account from his accuser that suggested the encounter that prompted the count against him was consensual.

That's the deal host Stephen Colbert announced last night on The Late Show. He started by noting that celebrity chef José Andrés had opened a relief kitchen in Washington, D.C. to feed furloughed government workers, and anyone else in need of a meal, for free -- to the tune of up to 200,000 meals a day.

Colbert then played footage of a joke from Wednesday night's show, during which he noted President Trump's order for thousands of federal workers to return to their jobs without pay. Colbert then showed what he called a "shutdown coffee mug" emblazoned with the words "Don't even talk to me until I've had my paycheck," and then remarking, "Can we sell these?"

"So we're selling these," Colbert said Thursday after playing the Wednesday footage. "Go to ColbertLateShow.com/ShutdownMug to get one. 100% of The Late Show's profits benefit World Central Kitchen to help José Andrés' team feed federal workers during the shutdown. Get a mug!"

That's the deal host Stephen Colbert announced last night on The Late Show. He started by noting that celebrity chef José Andrés had opened a relief kitchen in Washington, D.C. to feed furloughed government workers, and anyone else in need of a meal, for free -- to the tune of up to 200,000 meals a day.

Colbert then played footage of a joke from Wednesday night's show, during which he noted President Trump's order for thousands of federal workers to return to their jobs without pay. Colbert then showed what he called a "shutdown coffee mug" emblazoned with the words "Don't even talk to me until I've had my paycheck," and then remarking, "Can we sell these?"

"So we're selling these," Colbert said Thursday after playing the Wednesday footage. "Go to ColbertLateShow.com/ShutdownMug to get one. 100% of The Late Show's profits benefit World Central Kitchen to help José Andrés' team feed federal workers during the shutdown. Get a mug!"